Supporting device



Dec. 7, 1937. v Y s, MlNTERs 2,101,474

SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1954 m ORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 STA 5 FTNT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices such as boiler tank stands and the like articles.

An object of this invention is to provide a boiler stand of the character described, adapted to be adjusted in height and also for supporting boilers or tanks of various diameters.

A further object of this invention is to provide a neat, strong and compact device of the character described which may be readily and easily adjusted, which shall comprise comparatively few and simple parts, be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and withal practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be examplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is an elevational View of a boiler tank stand embodying the invention, supporting a tank;

Fig. in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one part of my improved boiler stand;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a boiler stand embodying the invention and illustrating a modified construction thereof;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the stand shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of another modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l0 designates a stand or support embodying the invention, here shown for the purpose of illustration only as supporting a boiler tank II, it being understood that my stand may be employed for supporting other objects. The stand it) comprises a top frame l2, supported by a plurality of stanchions l3. The frame I2 is preferably constructed of a plurality of similar members M, the frame being here shown for the purpose of illustration, as being triangular in shape and comprised of three of such members M. The members Hi may be made of stamped sheet metal or as castings, each comprising a central or corner portion l5 from which extend diverging arms is a top plan view of the stand shown l5, disposed at a substantially angle to one another. Each of said arms is preferably formed with a plurality of equally spaced openings or apertures ll, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The portion 15 which is located at the apex of the arms I6, is provided with a vertical tapped hole or opening l8. There also projects upwardly from the portion I5 a ledge, ridge or projection l9.

In assembling the frame l2, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, each arm 16 overlaps or telescopes with an adjacent arm to form a triangle. As shown in Fig. 2, one arm of each member 14 contacts an outer surface of an arm of a second member l 4 and the other arm thereof contacts an inner surface of the arm of a third member M. The members :4 are so arranged so as to form substantially an equiangular triangle. The contacting arms are attached together by bolts and nuts 20 extending through registering openings H" in said arms, preferably two bolts being provided for attaching each pair of contacting arms.

Each stanchion l3 comprises a nipple or pipe 23 screwed into a tapped opening l8 and fixed in position by a lock nut 24 preferably contacting the underside of a portion l5. A floor plate or cup 25 may be screwed to the bottom end of each nipple 23. The bottom rim 2'! of the tank I I may be received within the projection I9 of the frame to prevent side shifting of the tank.

It will now be understood that the support It] may be adjusted to receive tanks of various diameters. To adjust the frame l2, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 20 and position the members M to form a triangle of desired size, the bolts then being replaced to attach together the telescoping or contacting arms I6. Furthermore, the height of the support l0 may be adjusted either by screwing the nipples 23 or cutting the nipples to the desired length.

In Fig. '7 is shown a frame 12a comprising three similar members Ma each having a corner portion i511 and arms 50 and 5|. The corner portion 15a of. each member l4a is formed with a tapered opening l8a and a ledge Mia. The arm 5! of each member Ma has a plurality of spaced openings 11, while the arm 5! is formed with spaced openings and a hook 52 at the end thereof. It will now be noted that the hook 52 of each arm 5| may be received within an opening ll of the arm 50 of an adjacent member Ma. Thus each pair of contacting arms 50 and 5| of adjacent members Ma are attached together by means of a bolt and nut 20 and the engagement of the hook 52 within one of the openings ll.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a support Illa illustrating a modified construction. Said support Illa comprises three upstanding similar members 30. Each member is formed at the mid-portion thereof with a triangular corner portion 3| provided on the outer surface thereof with grooves 32. The grooved surfaces are preferably disposed at an angle of 60 to one another. Extending from the mid-portion 31 is an upwardly projecting, somewhat inwardly curved portion 33; and extending downwardly from said portion 3| is a somewhat outwardly curved portion 34. At the upper end thereof the portion 33 is formed with a notch 35 and at the lower end thereof the portion 34 is formed with a notch 36. Received within each groove 32 is an arm 38. The arms 38 are fixed to the portion 3| by riveting, or in any other suitable manner. There is thus an angle of 60 between the arms 38 of each member 30. The support Illa may be assembled as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, by contacting or telescoping the arms 38 of the members 30 110 form. a triangle. Said arms 38 are each provided with a plurality of equally spaced openings 39. The arms may be attached by bolts and nuts extending through registering openings. When the members 30.are attached together to form the stand Illa, the tank ll may be mounted thereon, the lower rim 2'! of the tank being received within the notches 35.

The device Illa may be adjusted for supporting tanks of various diameters, by removing the bolts and nuts 40 and attaching the members 30 together in difierent positions. Furthermore, the device Hla may be turned upside down so that the rim 21 of the tank is received in the notches 36, of. the portions 34. The notches 35 are on a circle of smaller diameter than are notches 36. Thus a large range of adjustment may be made for accommodating tanks of different diameters.

Althoughsupports Ill and lOa are shown to each comprise three interconnected members forming a triangle, it will be understood that my improved support may comprise any suitable number of angular members having arms at suitable angles to form a regular polygon. For example, four members l4 may be provided each having arms extending at 90 to one another, whereby upon assembling said members a square support is formed.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A support comprising a plurality of similar members each having a corner portion and diverging arms, one of said arms having a plurality of spaced openings, and an extension on said other arm adapted to be received within an opening of anarm of an adjacent member.

2. A support comprising a plurality of similar members each having a corner portion, and arms diverging at an angle of 60, the arms of each member contacting adjacent arms of adjacent members to form'a triangular frame, one arm of. each member having a plurality of openings, the other arm of said member having an extension adapted to be received in one of the openings of an arm of an adjacent member, each pair of contacting arms having registering openings, and a bolt extending through said registering openings. 3. A support comprising a plurality of similar members each having a corner portion, and arms diverging at an angle of 60, the arms of each member contacting adjacent arms of adjacent members to form a triangular frame, one arm of each member having a plurality of openings, the other arm of said member having an extension adapted to be received'in one of the openings of an arm of an adjacent member, each pair of contacting arms having registering openings, a bolt extending through said registering openings, the corner portion of each member being formed with a tapped opening, and a pipe screwed within each tapped opening.

BARNET S. MINTERS. 

